And that is particularly evident on their sophomore full-length, Stygian Waves, issued on March 28, 2025 through the Kscope label. Lifeson spoke to AllMusic shortly earlier than the album’s launch, and defined the way it differs from the group’s first providing, along with chatting about songwriting, elements of his private life, and even just a few Rush-related matters.
How would you examine Stygian Waves to Envy of None’s self-titled debut?
“The primary album was very exploratory for us. We did not actually know one another very nicely. I clearly knew Andy [who was previously a member of Canadian rockers Coney Hatch], however I did not know Alf that nicely, and I did not know Maiah in any respect. And we actually got here collectively and labored as a crew on that properly, remotely. So, we might share our recordsdata and all of that stuff. Nicely, we made the second document that means, too. And I believe we benefited from the primary document and attending to know one another just a little bit higher. And we began engaged on the document proper after the primary one was launched, so we simply flowed proper into it.”
“I believe that this document is extra mature. It reveals extra confidence on our half. I believe we achieved all of the objectives that we’re after. It wasn’t a lot of searching for issues because it was as soon as the concepts have been set, then we simply adopted by means of. There’s extra substance to this document.”
“I am soloing extra on this document, which is type of a pleasant factor. It is just a little heavier, I believe. It is just a little rockier in a means, however there’s additionally a number of cool, funky stuff. And I believe the range is nice. The manufacturing has improved. Not that I had an issue with the manufacturing of the final document, however this document actually sounds nice. So, an exquisite document to hearken to.”
“After which there’s Maiah. Maiah sits on high of all the things else. She’s genius on this document, and she or he’s actually matured as a vocalist, as a songwriter, a lyricist, and as an individual. So, it has been fairly a fairly an attention-grabbing journey for her within the final couple of years.”
Does the album title have a particular that means?
‘No. Stygian waves are from mythology, and are the turbulent waves on the gates of hell. As you stream down the River Styx, as you method the gates of hell, the water turns into way more turbulent and chaotic. And we prefer to assume that there is additionally a option to navigate out of these turbulent waters into one thing just a little extra calmer and constructive.”
Two music movies have been issued thus removed from the album, “Not Useless But” and “Beneath the Stars.”
“I am not a singles man, personally. However I perceive that there is some significance, and the document firm feels it is essential to have singles and movies. So, ‘Not Useless But,’ we employed a videographer from Argentina to do the primary video. It is an AI generated video, however my understanding is loads of work goes into it earlier than it ever comes close to a pc. So, this argument forwards and backwards, I suppose it is a digital/analog argument at instances, y’know, on steroids, however I believe it seems superb.”
“And this AI stuff is horrifying, however it seems superb. It is attention-grabbing to take a look at and watch. So, there’s a lot exercise in these movies. These have been the primary tracks that we thought that we might launch as singles. And the second video, for ‘Beneath the Stars,’ that is a complete totally different method.”
“However I suppose they’re efficient instruments to take, get individuals’s consideration for moments, however nobody has an consideration span anymore. No one actually cares. So I simply, I ponder about the entire thing. They’re enjoyable to do they usually’re enjoyable to take a look at, however in the end, are they a lot of a software anymore? I am actually undecided. I am not the one to ask…despite the fact that you requested me!”
I discover the music of Envy of None to be fairly cinematic sounding. Has the band pursued doing music for TV or movie?
“We have tried very exhausting, and we did get a placement on the primary album for the tune ‘Liar’ on a Netflix sequence. The title [of the show] escapes me proper now. Yeah, I believe that that may be superior, as a result of I believe this music may be very cinematic and fairly atmospheric. A whole lot of the fabric I believe would match nice for, like, ‘Not Useless But,’ for the subsequent Bond film? Wow. What an amazing tune that may be for the subsequent Bond film. And now we have supervisors that search out these alternatives. So, hopefully one thing extra will come of that. However I might like to get these type of placements.”
It is exhausting to check the music of Envy of None to any particular different artist, which is an efficient factor. Are there any influences from different artists that you can imagine?
“Nicely, I believe there is a comparability to Rubbish, I suppose, as a result of Shirley [Manson] and Maiah are each ladies. However for me, no, I am going into it simply with a transparent thoughts, engaged on these tasks. And I have a look at them as difficult alternatives for me to play guitar another way than I’ve ever performed it, and search for sounds which are very totally different than normal, conventional guitar sounds. So for me personally, it is a actually nice train in exploration and increasing my boundaries.”
“When you ask the others that, I am positive they’d have their influences, however I actually do not know. As a result of we work on it pretty steadily, and we’re at all times centered on it. So you are not getting in loads of different outdoors influences, no less than I do not assume so. All people does not actually need to copy one thing else. You need to be unique. However actually there are flavors of different issues – there is a ’60s vibe that I hear, there is a ’90s vibe that I hear. We’re type of just a little all around the map.”
“However I believe now we have a really distinctive mixture in that we’re type of old style musicians and we’re writing type of, I might say, darker cinematic music. However with Maiah’s voice not being a ‘rock type of voice’ and being fairly fragile, it is a actually nice distinction to what the music is, which is just a little darker. So I believe in that sense, it is fairly distinctive.
How do you method Envy of None songs from a guitar standpoint?
“We get the essential thread of an thought. And normally they’re fairly minimal. Relating to me, I do scratch guitars, and I do not do loads of them, however I will do the thematic and perhaps one secondary type of guitar presence. And I do not spend a complete lot of time. I normally simply use plugins and attempt to get by means of it very spontaneously. After which it goes to Maiah and she or he’ll do a scratch vocal, and it comes again to me, after which I begin doing the ultimate guitars. After which I simply break it down in sections between the verses and the choruses and bridges and any instrumental part – very similar to I might have achieved prior to now with Rush music. I imply, that is my system for mapping issues out.”
“After which I type of dive into it. Typically, I begin with an acoustic, and I do acoustic stuff that in the end will likely be electrical, however I discover that I can get just a little extra natural with an acoustic at instances. And I like taking part in acoustic guitar, anyhow. So very often with this document, that was a place to begin for me, and invariably, that grew to become a signature for an additional half, the place it will go into an acoustic part, or no less than supportive. After which I might begin constructing the guitars, normally, y’ know, as you’ll be able to see [shows a large collection of guitars behind him], I acquired all my stuff over right here. Analog stuff, and the amps, and I’ve a cupboard that is in an enclosure. So I love to do these issues extra analog.”
“However I additionally acquired, I do not know in case you’ve checked these out but – that is the Common Audio amp pedals that they’ve [Alex displays two pedal models: Lion ’68 and Enigmatic ’82]. They’re type of new. They sound superb! I am a pedal man for positive, however I am not this type of pedal man – like, emulating guitar sounds. However I did the factor for the TONEX, the place they did my complete catalog of amps. Oh, it is unimaginable. And there is a complete new era, I suppose it is pushed AI, a complete new era of those sorts of issues that really emulate the guitar sound.”
“Digital guitar, like plugins, at all times sound prefer it’s taped onto the display. It does not have the depth – you do not really feel prefer it’s tall or deep or fats. And these pedals do it, and the TONEX does it, as a result of they’ve achieved one thing in regards to the backside finish of these plugins, which have been missing prior to now. They appear to have conquered that impediment. And now these pedals and people plugins like TONEX are an unimaginable step into making it way more handy and nonetheless sustaining an amazing, nice, nice guitar sound.”
Do you assume Envy of None might play some reveals in help of the brand new album?
“Oh, we might like to. We preserve speaking about it. I believe {that a} evening in a smallish theater with a pleasant, delicate gentle present with two albums value of fabric could be an evening of simply stunning, nice, very emotional music. However, it is tough to get the logistics in place. These are very tough, difficult instances for us – to do a gig, or gigs, could be a monetary loss. So, it is exhausting to get motivated to spend so much of effort and time to do one thing that it will value you to do it. Not less than these are the preliminary responses that that we have gotten. However we’re holding out hope that perhaps there’s a possibility to do even a handful of gigs as a type of particular musical occasion.”
Now that you have not toured for fairly a while, how would you describe a typical day these days for you?
“I am an early riser. I am normally up between 5:30 and 6:30. I hit the gymnasium on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At 9:00, I come again. That is my studio in my condominium, and I like to come back again right here and spend time right here. It is my sanctuary. And I by no means get bored in right here. And there is by no means nothing that I do not need to do after I’m in right here. So, I will spend time right here.”
“I play just a little little bit of golf, and I used to be going to say some tennis often. And I make my very own meals, I prepare dinner my very own meals. I am very acutely aware about my weight-reduction plan and the way I am consuming now, in order that type of fills my day. And as soon as per week or so, I will drop by Ged‘s, and we’ll have espresso and speak about stuff. And see my grandkids. And that is about it. That is about my life.”
How are you doing health-wise?
“I went to a clinic in January in Austria, in southern Austria, referred to as the Vivamayr Clinic. It’s a wellness clinic that focuses on digestive system. In addition to many different issues – they’ve many most cancers sufferers there, they usually present so many alternative therapies. And it’s totally calm and quiet – no telephones, no music. It is nearly virtually zenning out and diving into this – consuming loads of water, tea, there is not any espresso, there’s clearly no alcohol. And I went as a result of I had surgical procedure in 2023 on my abdomen, and it left me with gastroparesis, which is sluggish motility. So, meals stays in my abdomen for ten or twelve hours moderately than two or three hours.”
“So, I actually should eat very fastidiously, and I’ve to be very selective about how I eat and never cross that line, as a result of it is exhausting for me to get again over. Y’know, one mistake prices me two or three days of discomfort. I used to be nauseous for a 12 months. I used to be depressing for just about a 12 months and a half…till I went to Vivamayr, they usually simply taught me take management of how I am consuming, what to eat, when to eat. And it is simply outstanding.”
“As a result of I am not usually that kind of particular person. I am lazy and I simply do not work exhausting in relation to issues I do not need to do. However this, for the primary time in my life, simply modified all the things, and it has been life altering for me. Since I went to see them, I’ve misplaced about 23 kilos, and I misplaced one other I believe 15 or 20 kilos earlier than that. So I am down near 40 kilos in a 12 months and a half.”
“And if I am cautious and I eat correctly, I can reside a contented, comparatively regular life. If I do not, then I undergo. So, you do not need to really feel crappy I’ve come to comprehend. You type of take it day after day, however now I do not need to really feel crappy anymore, ever once more. So, I’ve turn into very, very strict about it. I do not drink anymore, I do not smoke, I do not eat junk. Completely no junk. Gluten free, lactose free. Like, all of that stuff – as a result of that is me. That is what I’ve to do. It is not a selection. That is what I’ve to do to keep up an honest, comfy life.”
When the Victor album [1996’s self-titled] and Geddy’s solo album [2000’s My Favourite Headache] have been reissued final 12 months, I hoped perhaps you’ll play reveals collectively and carry out materials off these albums for the primary time ever. Was that ever a consideration?
“No, however it’s not a nasty thought. We by no means even thought of one thing like that. Yeah, that may have been one thing to think about. I imply, I actually wished to remix the [Victor] document. I used to be very sad with the unique combine that I did on it. It was very vivid. Backside finish actually wasn’t there. So, it gave me a second alternative to try this. And after I stripped all the things down, I spotted that I might gone so overboard after I recorded the document…I had six tracks of guitars taking part in the identical factor. Like, ‘Okay, doubling is ok. However do it’s essential have six tracks simply to have that dense ’90s type of sound?'”
“After which after I stripped all of it down right here, I blended it right here on this room. I took all these guitars out. I simply left one or two guitars in order that was extra direct, cleaner, extra air round all the things. I used to be a lot happier – the underside finish felt higher. A lot happier with the mixes. It is exhausting to return 20 years and revisit one thing, or 30 years revisit one thing, that was so essential, however you’ve got gone past it now. But it surely was an amazing train for me to have a second probability at it.”
Do you ever return and hearken to Rush’s music?
“Not likely. Each on occasion I hear a monitor and…I’ve by no means been capable of separate myself from the man that labored on that music that wished it to be higher. So, all the things that I hear I believe could possibly be higher. I simply give attention to, ‘Oh, why did I play that little factor? Or this.’ It is exhausting to only sit again and hear. And I believe that is in all probability fairly frequent for anyone that data music. However, yeah, perhaps I will have a hear extra usually.”
I lately went again and re-read fairly just a few of Neil Peart‘s lyrics, as a result of I used to be placing collectively an inventory of a few of his greatest lyrics for a web site I write for. What would you say are a few of your favourite lyrics he wrote?
“Oh, ‘Freewill’ was nice. ‘Nearer to the Coronary heart’ was to the purpose. ‘Xanadu’ was that type of actually cool interval from the extra ‘fantasy’ period – as a result of it is simply so descriptive and colourful, the lyrics in that tune. ‘Subdivisions’ speaks to a complete era. Yeah, he was a really, very gifted lyricist. He was an amazing observer, and that is the place he wrote from. I believe for the final third of his writing profession – he was extra of an observer, taking a look at issues round him and commenting on them extra from his personal private viewpoint.”
I believe “Dropping It” is considered one of his greatest lyrics ever.
“Yeah. That and ‘The Backyard.’ ‘The Backyard,’ actually, for its time when that tune got here out, or when that album got here out [2012’s Clockwork Angels], we by no means would have anticipated that that may be the closing quantity for Rush’s life. And ‘Dropping It,’ boy, it’s totally, very poignant. All of us face that.”
Particularly as I am getting older, that tune type of takes on a brand new that means.
“Yeah, you discover that too, huh? [Laughs] Yeah, I want I used to be the guitar participant I used to be 20 years in the past, however, I am nonetheless working at it.”
Which modern-day music artists do you take pleasure in?
“None. I do not hearken to any fashionable music, to be sincere with you. I take that again – I heard a band final week, referred to as Måneskin. They’re an Italian band. Wonderful. They sounded actually, actually good. I am not saying there is not any good music round, there’s. I am simply not fascinated with trying to find it anymore. These days are over for me, the place I might go to the document retailer and purchase an album and take it residence and undergo that complete course of.”
“I do what I do. I might a lot moderately hearken to music I create lately. And I do loads of that, from my very own private use. I’ve reams of stuff that I document that I play within the background, if we’re having a cocktail party or one thing like that. And it is underneath the radar, no person is aware of who it’s or what it’s. It is simply very nice music within the background. Trendy music, pop music, all that stuff, I can not stand it, actually – to be sincere with you. It is nearly dancing and leaping round. And I actually do not have loads of respect for it.”
My daughter is a really massive fan of Taylor Swift. And whereas that is not the music I usually hearken to, after I do hear it, I’ve to provide credit score that she does quite a lot of types. It is not predictable – it isn’t a identical fashion she at all times does.
“I am precisely the identical as you. I am not conversant in her music – I do know just a few songs. I do know a Taylor Swift tune as quickly because it comes on, which is nice. However she’s a participant, and she or he’s a author, and the best way she took care of her crew, like, what was it, $90 million in bonuses or one thing for her crew? [The figure was reported to be $197 million] A protracted tour – it was a few years. However she thinks like we at all times thought.”
“And once more, I am not a fan of that type of music – I believe it is nicely achieved and I give her credit score for it. However I give her tons of credit score for being the individual that she is, and dealing with herself the best way she does, and the big affect that she has. Very, very constructive affect she has on her so loyal viewers. It is unimaginable. I’ve complete respect for her.”
Future plans?
“Nicely, I am gonna end this cup of tea and have one other one, and go on and do one other 50 interviews right this moment, and for the remainder of the week! I am nonetheless engaged on a documentary on the Nice Lakes with a bunch of individuals – some guys from Barenaked Girls, from the Rheostatics. We have been engaged on this for some time. It is an attention-grabbing mission, as a result of we get collectively and we jam, after which we begin pulling stuff out of these jams after which constructing from these. And loads of the jams, as we progress, get higher and higher and higher, and stand alone as components.”
“I am working with a younger feminine artist on a few of her stuff. I do stuff with Marco Minnemann every so often – I’ve one mission right here on my desktop with him. So, I am taking part in so much. I play each day. I play earlier than I am going to mattress for an hour, as an absolute. However normally, I am getting no less than three or 4 hours of guitar taking part in in each day. So, it is all good.”
